VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Department of Education and Training has announced that the capital requires an additional 1,600 new pre-schools, schools and universities during the next 20 years to meet increasing student numbers.

The city planned to build about 1,000 pre-schools, 310 primary schools, 138 secondary and 136 high schools by 2030.

At present, the capital has about 2,455 educational institutions including 818 nurseries, 678 primary schools, 589 secondary schools and 189 high schools.

However, the department admitted that all current schools had failed to meet national standards which require at least 8sq.m per student in urban areas and 15sq.m per student in rural areas. Schools for disabled students also faced a lack of space.

"Space shortages are partly the result of overcrowded classes, which obviously affects the quality of teaching and learning," said Dong Da District's Trung Tu Primary School teacher Nguyen Thu Ha.

On average, 50-60 students are crowded into a 60-sq.m classroom in her school and teachers had to use microphone to deliver lessons, she said.

"We're located in a crowded residential area, so it's hard for the school to be expanded and incorporate new facilities including a science lab, school garden, and sports field," she said.

The shortage of nurseries in the city was exposed in early July, with parents queuing in front of pre-schools day and night in order to get their children enrolled.

Meanwhile, the city population is estimated to expand to 7.4 million in 2020 and 9.5 million in 2030, compared to the current population of 6.5 million, including 1.4 million students.

Ha Noi People's Committee chairman Nguyen The Thao urged relevant sectors and consultants to make drastic efforts to collect accurate data for the plan.

The education department also proposed an additional master plan on the city's education development to improve education quality.

This plan would include building standard facilities, increase the focus on information technology and foreign language teaching and encourage wider participation by the community, private sector and parents to provide students with a comprehensive education.

The committee vice chairwoman Ngo Thi Thanh Hang said the city intended to make the capital's education system a national leader, gaining regional and international recognition.

"The key to improving the quality of education are to apply student-centred methods, and clear out passive, old-fashioned learning methods," she said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News